Despite the ongoing pandemic and all of its cancellations and postponements, one thing is certain: Valentine's Day will happen on Feb. 14, COVID or no COVID. And whether you choose to dine in a restaurant or get takeout, the bottom line is this: There may be no better way to show your love than giving your mate a break from the kitchen.
In celebration of Valentine's Day, here are some Chattanooga restaurants that will be offering specials that go beyond their traditional menus, served tableside or curbside. Many eateries will be serving Valentine's meals before and after the 14th as seating is limited to 50% capacity, making tables a little harder to come by. Calling or clicking for reservations is a wise move.
- Acropolis Mediterranean Grill, 2213 Hamilton Place Blvd. In addition to its regular menu, on Feb. 10-17 Acropolis will add baked phyllo-wrapped brie with Greek bread crostini as an appetizer. Entree choices include grilled filet and colossal shrimp over mashed potatoes and asparagus with maitre d' butter; pan-seared halibut over shiitake mushroom risotto, topped with spinach tossed in basil-tomato vinaigrette; and pecan-crusted North Carolina trout over Riverview Farm red grits with roasted Brussels sprouts. For dessert? Red velvet cake or white-chocolate cheesecake with raspberry sauce. Hours: 11 a.m.- 9:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 423-899-5341, acropolisgrill.com
- Bonefish Grill, 2115 Gunbarrel Road. Bonefish celebrates Valentine's with a special filet paired with seasoned and steamed cold-water lobster tail. Enjoy this with a glass or bottle of Weedon Island wine, a private-label blend made in celebration of the restaurant's 20th anniversary. The surf-and-turf is also available for takeout (but not delivery) now through Feb. 15. Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. 423-892-3175, bonefishgrill.com
- Bridgeman's Chophouse at the Read House, 107 W. M.L. King Blvd. The chophouse will feature steak and wine specials throughout Valentine's week, but Feb. 13-14, there will be additional specials: crisp braised pork belly; poached lobster and white asparagus bisque; a massive 34-ounce Tomahawk steak; chocolate-layered crepe cake; and red velvet cheesecake. 423-643-1240, www.bridgemanschophouse.com
- Cafe on the Corner, 826 Scenic Highway, Lookout Mountain. This charming cafe will be open and serving a special menu Feb. 12-14 in-house as well as for takeout. Choices include creamy tomato bisque; starters such as fried oysters or pimento cheese and hummus, Cafe Cobb or strawberry-pecan salads; and entrees including slow-roasted prime rib, fried or baked lobster or Springer Mountain Farms chicken piccata. Hours: 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, noon-3 p.m. Sunday. 423-825-5005, www.cafeonthecornerlookoutmountain.com
- Carrabba's Italian Grill, 2040 Hamilton Place Blvd., will share the amore with a four-course dinner for two available Feb. 9-15, for dine-in or car-side carryout. Cost is $50. Your first course (to share) is a choice of mozzarella marinara or tomato Caprese with fresh burrata (a creamy cheese). Second course (choose one each): Caesar salad, house salad, Italian salad, Mama Mandola's Sicilian chicken soup or soup of the day. Third course (one per person, served with one side): lasagna, fettuccine Carrabba, chicken Bryan, chicken marsala or 7-ounce Tuscan-grilled sirloin. For a few dollars more, guests can select from a 10-ounce Tuscan-grilled sirloin, salmon saporito, a 9-ounce Tuscan-grilled filet or Tuscan-grilled lamb. Fourth course (dessert to share): Sogno Di Cioccolata featuring a rich fudge brownie with chocolate mousse, fresh whipped cream and chocolate sauce. You may add a glass or bottle of wine. Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 423-894-9970, carrabbas.com
- The Creag at McLemore Cove, 32 Clubhouse Lane, Rising Fawn, Georgia. Celebrate Valentine's at a table above the clouds at Lookout Mountain's new golf community and eatery. The three-course meal will be served all Valentine's weekend. It starts with an arugula salad with molasses poached pear, Benton's country ham and goat cheese with walnut vinaigrette. Red snapper with root vegetable ragout or beef Wagyu with Swiss chard and demi-glace are your choices for the second course, followed by the dessert course: chocolate sable with clementine and pistachio custard or rose pavlova with Meyer lemon curd and strawberries. Hours: noon-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, noon-9 p.m. Sunday. 706-620-0158, themclemore.com/dining
- Davis Wayne's, 9454 Bradford Lane. The popular Ooltewah meat-and-three offers a surf-and-turf special with New York strip and salmon; lobster mac-and-cheese; and grilled shrimp and scallops. The specials will be on the menu Feb. 12-14. Hours: 3-8 p.m Tuesday-Thursday, 3-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 423-269-8969, Facebook.com/DavisWaynes
- Easy Bistro, 801 Chestnut St. Enjoy your Valentine's dinner at home with Easy's special Take-and-Bake dinners for two. You have three entree choices that come with sides and dessert: beef bourguignon with bacon lardons, mushrooms and carrots; house-made baked pasta with andouille Bolognese, bechamel, wilted greens and parmigiano; or, for vegetarians, house-made pasta with roasted seasonal vegetables, bechamel, wilted greens and parmigiano. All meals have optional add-ons, such as wine, cocktails and cheese boards. Orders placed before noon are available for same-day pickup after 5 p.m. Or dine in at Easy's new location and order from the regular menu. Hours: 4-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 4-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 423-266-1121, easybistro.com
- Feed Co. Table & Tavern, 201 W. Main St., will offer a Valentine's Day wine dinner at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 11. The chef-prepared meal's four courses, each paired with an Italian wine, feature Bella Portobello, Heart Beet Salad, All My Love Steak & Salmon and Rich in Love Chocolatier (dessert gets an assist from nearby business The Hot Chocolatier). Seating is in the private event space at the rear of the building. Cost is $75 per person. 423-708-8500, feedtableandtavern.com (click on News).
- Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, 2107 Gunbarrel Road. Firebirds will offer plenty of time to toast your sweetheart with table-for-two specials through Feb. 28, priced at just under $30 per person. The three-course dinner includes a shared appetizer of lobster spinach queso, seared ahi tuna, whipped lemon feta or a classic wedge salad (for two); individual main courses of Key lime grilled salmon, filet or New York strip; and a shared dessert of creme brulee cheesecake, brownie sundae or chocolate cheesecake. Hours are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 423-308-1090, chattanooga.firebirdsrestaurants.com/
- Frothy Monkey, 1400 Market St. The coffeehouse chain is bringing back its popular three-course Frothy Love dinners Feb. 12-14, available after 5 p.m. each day. Dinner for two, to be enjoyed dine-in or to-go, costs $50 and comes with an appetizer, two entrees and a shared dessert, with the option to add a bottle of wine for $25. The regular dinner menu also will be available. The Frothy Love menu includes a cheese plate to share or two small salads; and choice of braised beef short rib over mashed potatoes with buttered green beans and red wine pan gravy; herb-crusted mahi over feta grits, grilled asparagus and basil pesto or sun-dried tomato pesto pasta, made with fusilli pasta with tomatoes, red onions, spinach and sun-dried tomato pesto cream with parmesan (add chicken for $4). For your shared dessert, the restaurant is offering a dark chocolate caramel mousse bombe. 423-680-6343, frothymonkey.com/valentinesday2021
- Green Room at the Read House, 107 W. M.L. King Blvd. Celebrate a three-course dinner 6-9 p.m. Feb. 13-14, with live music by jazz artist Naomi Powell. The menu features lobster-white asparagus bisque or frisee salad with pomegranate seeds and candied pistachios. The main course is a choice of pan-seared Chilean sea bass with herb risotto and grilled asparagus or an 8-ounce filet with tarragon potato puree and grilled asparagus. The dessert course features chocolate-layered crepe cake with blood-orange sabayon and fresh berries or red velvet cheesecake with an Oreo crust. Seating is limited to 25 tables each day. 423-266-4121, https://www.thereadhousehotel.com/events/valentines/
- Public House, 1110 Market St. The main dining area and its adjoining heated patio will be open and serving from the regular menu as well as a special, three-course dinner that may be enjoyed in-house or for takeout. Wine and flowers can be added at an additional cost. Normal hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Specials available 5-9 p.m. Feb. 13, 5-8 p.m. Feb. 14. 423-266-3366, publichousechattanooga.com
- Slick's Burgers, 309 E. Main St. Valentine's specials at this popular burger joint are beef pot roast with home-style mashed potatoes and roasted veggies; spinach salad with candied pecans, strawberries, blue cheese and champagne vinaigrette; and, for dessert, powdered sugar doughnuts with bourbon-honey syrup. The Valentine's menu will be offered Feb. 12-14. Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Feb. 12, noon-10 p.m. Feb. 13, noon-9 p.m. Feb. 14. 423-760-4878, toasttab.com/slicks
- Tony's Pasta Shop and Trattoria, 411 E. Second St. The romance of Italy comes alive at Tony's any time of year, but particularly on Valentine's when a chef's special - not yet determined - will be paired with one of the amazing wines on the menu. Following dinner, walk over to Rembrandt's and indulge in one of the tempting Valentine's chocolates. The dinner special will be served all weekend: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Feb. 12-13, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Feb. 14. 423-321-0235, ext. 6, bluffviewartdistrict.com/tonys-pasta-shop
- Whitebird at The Edwin, 102 Walnut St. Whitebird offers a delicious four-course meal for Valentine's this year. Choose from shrimp and oysters or Brussels sprouts with preserved habaneros, pomegranate and citrus for your starter course, followed by a second course of crispy baby gem salad or sweet potato soup. The main course offers a choice of prime rib with sheep's milk mashed potatoes and creamed greens; roasted chicken with spiced rice; halibut with butternut squash bisque, lentils, red beans and Benton's bacon; or squash cavatelli with shiitake mushrooms and ricotta. The dessert course is sticky toffee pudding with sugar doughnuts. Hours: 5-9 p.m. Feb. 12-14. 423-269-8539, whitebirdchattanooga.com
Email Anne Braly at abraly@timesfreepress.com.